Reloading tool



June 28, 1932 G F, MMERMAN 1,864,880

RELOADING TOOL Filed Feb. 15, 1932 3 Sheets$heet 1 v ings illustrating apparatus for carrying into "'andzthe novel features will be pointed outin' GEORGE F. ZIMMERMAN, OF BRISTOL, VIRGIlh'IA- fnnnoenme TOOL Application filed February 15, 1932. Serial No. 593,141.

This invention relates to improvements in 1 those tools or devices which areemployed in performing the necessary operations involved in re-loading rifle or pistol cartridges. These operationsconsistin removing the old primer; inserting a new primer re-sizing the outs de or. neck ofthe cartridge case; expand- ,in the inside, and inserting and seating a bu let. d 7

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus or tool of the type described which performs the above operations, insequenceyby a single reciprocation of an i operating member.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved re-loading tool which comprises ajminimum number of parts, so constructed and organized as to accomplish the necessary operations with the expenditure of a minimum amount of labor and in a short V time.

Another object of the invention to provide improved-mechanism which may be operated'tofremove the primer from one shell while operating upon other shells to; perform additionaloperations, such as re-sizing the entire shell, and inserting a bullet in position {upon a shell which has been charged with powder.

fOther objects and advantages of the invention are more fullyset-forth in the following description, and will be un derstood therefrom inconnection with the accompanying draw effect the various purposes of the invention,

the appended claims.

1 In the drawings Fig. 1 represents a tool embodying the invention in side elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the parts in different positions from Fig. 1;

is p r sectional;

Fig. 4: is a view infront elevation, partly Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 illustrate different positions of the lead bullet re-sizing attachment; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the cartridgehold i s s p t;

herein shown as securely The frameQ is provided with a foot-piece "55 4, and a clamping screw 3, which latter is threaded through a lugin the frame, and serves together withthe footpiece as ameans for clamping the frame to a suitable support in the drawings;

The frame 2 is provided with'projections, 13, 18a, which have perforations for guiding a plunger 1 for reciprocating movements.

The plunger 1 may be reciprocated by a lever 6, connected with the plunger by suitable links 5, or otherwise as desired, in order that theplunger may be given its working stroke in the performance of the various operations of the tool. A bar 9 is rigidly secured upon the upper end portion of the plunger. This bar is herein shown as provided with three openings, 9a, 9b, 9c, and a plat-e11 having restricted openings 12 therein is supported upon the block, the openings 12beinfgin alignment to the openings" 9a, 9.71, 96 through the block, but of smaller size than said openings. An upper plate or cartridge holder 7 is supported uponthe plate 11, the parts 11 and 9 being fastened together by screws 51. The plate 7, which will hereinafter be referred to as the cartridge holder.

,is provided withthree openings 8, which are in alignment'with the three openings 12, and

lead to the front edge of the cartridge holder. 85

as a bench, such as indicated by dotted lines cartridge cases being retained by the overhanging flanges or ribs 865. as shown. 7

The frame 2 is provided with an overhanging projection'or head 10 arranged in alignment with the cartridge holder 7, and serving support various implements for. per- 3109 "forming the several operations incident to re-loadingcartridges The die 20 for re-sizing the shells is provided with an external screw thread which engages an internal vided with a thread 22 which engages a thread in the die 20, and is held in adjusted, position therein by a lock nut 23. The expander 21 is provided with an enlarged head 21a to perform the expanding operation. As herein shown, a de-capping pin 18 is threadedto the lower end of the head 21aand projects downwardly through the openings 8, 8a and 9a., in

the cartridge holder and its shell retaining plate, as shown in Fig; 4. I

In line with the die 20, a second die 27 is herein sho-wnas threaded to the head 10, and formed 'interiorly, of suchsizc and shape as to re-sizecartridge cases for their full length,'1nst'ead of merely re-sizlng the necks thereof. In horizontal alignment with the two. dies20, 27, is abullet-seating die 28, which likewise is threaded to the head 10.

This die is provided with a bullet-seating screw plug'29 threaded in the upper end portion of the bore of the die 28, and held in,

adjusted position thereon, by a lock nut 28a. .asshown in Fig. 4.

, The projecting portion 13 of the frame 2 is herein shown as provided with an opening which receives by threaded engagement a stem 14 which supports the priming cup 16 for holding a primer P, as shown, the cup being provided with slots 17 through which passes a pin 18 carried by the stem 14, whereby'the cup16 is capableof limited reciprocating movements on the stem." A spring 15 on the stem is confined between the cup and the projecting arm 13 of the frame, and'nor- .mally urges the priming cup into-its upper position. In this position the cup will partially enclose the primer, which latter rests upon the end of the stem 14. The primer cup is in alignment with the opening 9a, in the bar 9, and occupies a position for inserting a primer in an empty case when the bar is moved from itsupper position, as shown in Fig. 4, to the lowered; position as shown in Fig. 1. When the parts occupy the-latter po- .sition the cartridge case Chas been de-capped,

re-sized as to its neck, and expanded internally, and is therebyin condition to receive the new primer which is insertedtherein at the termination of the'down stroke of the bar 9. f

The die 27 which is form-edinteriorly to r'e-size the cartridge case for its full length, may if desired, be substituted for the die 20, in which case the operations performed by the. latter and'the expander and de-capper will not be changed, but instead ofre-sizing merely the neck of the shell, the shell will be re-sized for its full'length.

Fig. 4 shows how the bullet-seatin die 28 and its plug 29 are employed for seating the bullet in the restricted portion or neck of the case after the latter has been supplied with its appropriate charge of powder, and this operation follows thepreviously described operations upon the case, and may be performed on one cartridge case while another case is being subjected to the de-capping, and resizing operations.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by supporting the several dies which are instrumental in the performance of the functions described in the head 10, in conjunction with the re-capping or primerinserting device at the opposite end of the stroke of the head 10, a plurality of. operations may be performed upon a. number of cases, and all of these operations may be carried out bya singlereciprocation of the plunger. 7

Tn Figsn5 and 6 of the drawings is illus trated a re-sizing die for lead or cast bullets, which comprises a bullet sizing die 31, hereinv shown Vinv the form of a hollow bushing which is threaded into one of the apertures in the head 10, and provided withia restricted opening 32, and acooperating punch 30 carried by the reciprocating bar 9, andaligning with the bore on die 31. When the bar 9 is in its lowered position, Fig. 5 a, cast bullet B with its point downward is placed in a recess in the punch 30 shaped to fit the pointed end of the bullet. When the bar 9 moves upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6, the

bullet is reduced to its proper diameter by being. forced through the restricted bullet-sizing die-opening 32. Adjustment of the various'dies, as 20, 27 and 31,.in the head '10, in order to position them properly relativelyto the shell case, or in the re-sizing of cast bullets to the bullet,

may be readily accomplished through the threaded connections between these dies and the head, as is obvious.

it Will be observed that'the openings12 in the plate 11 are smallerin diameter than theopenings 8a in the holder '7, therelative size of these openings being such and the recess in the cartridge case which rec'eives the primer beingslightly less in diameter than that of the opening 12, that the shell case is supported upon the plate 11 in such manner that the primer may be inserted as the head descends and passes over the cup 16 without interference, the upper edge of the latter engaging with the lower surface of themarginal portion of plate 11 immediately surrounding 'th opening 12. By this engagement between the upper edge of the cup 16 and the plate 11, the cup is depressed against the stress of spring 15 which yields and'permits the "primer to be seated firmly in the primer recess in thebase of the case, it being observed that the cup surrounds the primer upon the end of. the stem 14 and prevents its accidental displacement during that portion of thecdescent of the bar 9 previous to theengagement between the edge of the cup 16 and the plate 11. i

In the performance of the various opera- Itionsfdescribedit will be seen that an empty cartridge. case is moved into the opening 8 whilethe bar 9 is in its lowered position, as

shown in Fig. 1. Upward movement of the lever-.6 and plunger 1 causes the bar p 9 and theyempty case (or cases) to move upward,

the case which is in alignment with the die 20 beingdecappedby the primer pin 18 at or about the same time that the neck of the j case enters therestrictedupper portion of the bar;

neck to its proper size. 20

die and is re-sized by external engagement therewith. Upon a reverse movement of the the shell is withdrawn from the die 20, and the expander head 21 acts to expand the In the meantime a primer has been placed in the cup 16, and

juponwcontinuation of the downward movef'rnent of the bar 9, the primer iscaused to be seated in its recess inthe base of the case. The shell is then filled with the appropriate amount of powder,

is inserted inthe opening 8 of the holder 7 which is in alignment with the bullet-seating die 28 and a bullet is placed over the mouth of the case. Upon upward movement of the i plunger 1 this cartridge case and bullet are then moved into die 28 and the bullet by engagement with the screwplug 29 is properly seated'in position and permanently held secure as the neck ofthe case has previously been re-sized to such. size as to hold the bullet friction tight. If it is desired to crimp the case this may be accomplished by having die 28 adjustedto cause such pressure between the edge of the neck of the case and the bullet as to crimp the case around the bullet. In Fig. 9 the stem 14 is provided with an enlargement or head 14', and the cup 16 is provided with two bores of different internal diameters, thus producing a shoulder. When the cup is projected to its upward limit by the spring as shown in Fig. 9, it is arrestedby engagement of the head 14 with the shoulder formed at the junction of the enlarged and restricted bores. In this form the slot and pin arrangement disclosed in Figs. 1, 3 and 4.- is unnecessary. Either form of stem and cup may be employed, as desired.

. l The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts herein shown as are contemplated by the scope of the following claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a support carrying a plurality of dies, one of said dies being shaped to re-size a cartridge case, means in said die for de-capping the case when the same enters the die, means for expanding the neck of the case when the latter is retracted, means the cartridge case cartridge case by its flange,

for re-capping the case as it is withdrawn from said die, a case holder, and means for causing relatlve movement between said holder and said die and re-capplng means.

2. In a device of the class described, the;

combination of a. support for a plurality of dies which are constructed, respectively, to

performsuccessive operations upon a cartridge case, one of said dies constructed and arranged to re-size and to eject a primer from a case and another of said dieshaving means for seating a bullet upona re-sized and recappedcase, means for supporting a plurality of cartridge cases and for moving them simultaneously relative to said dies to per-1;

3. In a device of the class described, the:

combination of a frame, a head thereon carrvmg a plurality of dies, one of said dies being adapted to re-size a case externally and having means for de-capping the case upon the same movement of the shell thereinto, and means for expanding the caseupon reverse movement of the latter, another of said dieshaving means for seating a bullet in a case, a support for a plurality of cases arranged to cause said cases to enter said dies upon one movement of the support, and means for recapping a case upon the reverse movement of said support. l

4. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a frame having a head with a plurality of diestherein, one of said dies shaped to re-size a cartridge case upon movement of the case in the die and means for simultaneously de-capping the case and having means for expanding the neck of the case upon outward movement of the latter. the

other of said dies having means for seating a bullet in a case upon movement of the case into said die, means for supporting a plurality of cartridge cases and for imparting the necessary movement thereto to cause said cases to enter the dies, and means for recapping one of said cases upon reverse movement of said supporting means.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of supporting means for a die,

ofa die constructed to re-size a cartridge case externally upon movement of a case in said die, means for expanding the case internally upon reverse movement of the case. a support comprising abar having an undercut opening therein constructed to hold a said bar includsupporting means having an opening of ing diameter than that of theprimer recess larger din the case and additionally having .an'eo'pening of still largerdiameter thjan theiifirstmentioned opening to receive a primer cup, means located in line with the last-named opening to sustain a primer, a yieldingly sup 1 ported (cup arrangedto be normally held in advance of said ing of a slze to enter the primer support said cup belarger opening in the case-supporting bar but having its peripheral advancingiedge of larger diameter than the first-named opening in said bar whereby said cup may :upon relativewmovement of the cup and bar be caused to engage sizing die adjustably mounted in said frame, means in said die for internally expanding a case, means carried bythe expanding means for de-capping a case, a support having an undercut recess for engaging the flange of a case, supporting means for the case having an aperture of greater diameter than that of the P1111161 recelvingrecess, saldcase support belng provided w1th still greater enlarged ooeninmbelow the first-mentioned o enin L c c thereby providing an annular shoulder within thecase support, a stemadjustably'and rigidly mounted in alignment with the'lastnamedopening,'a primer'cup reciprocally mounted upon said stem, yielding means for Y advancing the cup beyond the upper end of "the stem, said cup being of a diameter'to engage the rim surrounding the smaller opening in the case support and arranged to he moved relatively to" the stem, and means for relatively moving said support and primer cup towards each other to effect seating the primer in the recess in the case;

7. In a device of the class described, the l combination with a holder having a supportplate fora cartridge case, vided with an opening of a size larger than the primer receiving recess and adapted to be arranged therebelow, said holder having an opening of larger diameter than the opening in said plate and arranged belowthe latter, a primer support arranged below and in line with said openings, a cup surrounding said primer support and yieldingly sustained above it, said cup being of a size to enter the larger opening in the holder, but of larger size than the opening in said plate, and means for causing relative movement between said holder and primer support.

I 8. In a device of the class. described, the combination of a frame having a head thereon with means for supporting adjustably a plurality of dies, one ofsaid dies being constructed and arranged to re-size a cartridge said plate pro- 1 of the case, and having Irieansto expand the case upon reverse movement of the latter, and

another die being constructed to seat a bullet in a case, a reciprocating plunger, means for guiding the same, a cross bar carried by said plunger and having a plurality of openings therein with flanges toretain a pluralityof cartridge cases inline', respectively, with said dies, a plate on said bar having a plurality of openings arranged to be in line with cartridge cases when'sustained on said bar and of greater size than the openings in the base of the cases which receive primers, a primer supporting stem rigidly sustained below said bar and in line with one of theopenings therethrough, and a primer cup yieldingly' supported on said stem-and normally held in advance of the extreme end of said stem, said jcup being of larger diameter than. the opening in said plate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this22ndday of anuary, A. D. 1932. i

'GEORGE'F. ZIMMERMAN.

case and de-cap the same upon one movement 

